Abelia plant named ‘OPSTAL102’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Abelia×grandiflora  named ‘OPSTAL102’ that is characterized by its foliage that is irregularly variegated with olive green centers and margins that orange-red to red margins on new growth and mature to green margins with white margins, its numerous blooms that are white in color, and its broadly spreading and densely branched plant habit.

Botanical classification: Abelia×grandiflora.

Varietal denomination: ‘OPSTAL102’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAbelia×grandiflora and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘OPSTAL102’. ‘OPSTAL102’ represents a new Abelia, an herbaceousperennial grown for landscape use.

The inventor discovered the new cultivar, ‘OPSTAL102’, as a naturallyoccurring branch mutation of Abelia×grandiflora ‘Abelops’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,961) in August 2011 that was growing in a container inZundert, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by theinventor by stem cuttings in Zundert, The Netherlands in 2014. It hasbeen determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stableand are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘OPSTAL102’, as unique from all other selections and formsof Abelia×grandiflora known to the inventor.

-   -   1. ‘OPSTAL102’ exhibits foliage that is irregularly variegated        with olive green centers and margins that orange-red to red        margins on new growth and mature to green margins with white        margins.    -   2. ‘OPSTAL102’ exhibits numerous blooms that are white in color.    -   3. ‘OPSTAL102’ exhibits a broadly spreading and densely branched        plant habit.

‘Abelops’, the parent plant of ‘OPSTAL102’, differs from ‘OPSTAL102’ inhaving foliage with margins that mature with a red-orange margin and inhaving flowers that turn pink-rose in color when mature. ‘OPSTAL102’ canalso be most compared to the cultivar ‘Kaleidoscope’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 16,988) and ‘Conti’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No 8,472). Both are similar to‘OPSTAL102’ in having a broad spreading plant habit. ‘Kaleidoscope’differs from ‘OPSTAL102’ in having leaves that are slightly smaller insize, in having variegated foliage with margins that emerge yellow-greenand become flushed with orange, red and yellow in autumn. ‘Conti’differs from ‘OPSTAL102’ in having foliage that is flushed with purplein spring and autumn and in having pale pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The plants and plant parts in the photographs depict a three-year oldplant of ‘OPSTAL102’ as grown outdoors in an unheated greenhouse 33-cmcontainer in Zundert, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘OPSTAL102’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of‘OPSTAL102’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up the foliage of ‘OPSTAL102’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized and the color values citedin the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors ofthe new Abelia. The colors in the photographs are as close as possiblewith the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color valuescited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe thecolors of the new Abelia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of three year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in an unheated greenhouse in 33-cm containers inZundert, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, asit has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Late summer into autumn.        -   Plant type.—Semi-evergeen shrub, observed to be deciduous in            The Netherlands.        -   Plant habit.—Broadly spreading.        -   Height and spread.—Average of 30.7 cm in height and 74.5 cm            in spread.        -   Hardiness.—Known to be hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 7.        -   Diseases and pests.—Not more susceptible to pests and            diseases than other Abelia varieties.        -   Root description.—Fine, wiry, and freely branched.        -   Propagation.—Stem division.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Root development.—About 12 months to finish a rooted plug in            a 13-cm container.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem color.—Younger branches; upper side of branch 178A,            lower side of branch 176B, mature branches; between 199A and            N199A.        -   Stem size.—Average of 21.6 cm in length and 2 mm in            diameter.        -   Stem quantity.—Average of 102.        -   Stem shape.—Rounded.        -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy, stems densely covered with            very short glandular hairs, average of 0.1 mm in length and            too small to measure color.        -   Stem aspect.—Very strong.        -   Branching habit.—Very free branching.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Single.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 18 (9 pairs).        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces slightly leathery and smooth,            upper surface moderately glossy and lower surface matte.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded to very short attenuate.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, upper and lower surface color; 147C.        -   Leaf margin.—Angulate.        -   Leaf color.—Immature upper surface; 147A, irregular margins            35C to 37B to 37C, immature lower surface; 148B, irregular            margins 37A, mature (and fall) upper surface; ranging            NN137B, irregular margins 150D to 155A, mature (and fall)            lower surface; 147B, irregular margins ranging between 155A            to 159D.        -   Internode.—Average of 2.4 cm in length.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 3.5 cm in length and 2 cm in width.        -   Petioles.—Average of 2.5 mm in length and 0.15 mm in            diameter, both surfaces 147C in color.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal compound cymes.        -   Inflorescence aspect.—All directions.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 6.8 cm in height and width.        -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet.        -   Flower quantity.—Average of 60 per inflorescence, 6 per            lateral stem.        -   Flower lastingness.—Average of 5 days.        -   Flower buds.—Obovate in shape, average of 4 mm in diameter            and 9 mm in length, color; 145C.        -   Flower aspect.—All directions.        -   Flower shape.—Campanulate, single.        -   Flower size.—Up to 1.9 cm in depth and 1.4 cm in diameter.        -   Petals.—Average of 5, campanulate, obovate in shape, margin            is entire, apex is obtuse, upper (inner) surface is smooth            and covered with soft hairs 1 mm in length and NN155D to in            color, under (outside) surface smooth and dull, color: upper            and lower surfaces when opening; NN155D, upper and lower            surfaces when fully open; NN155D average of 1.4 cm in length            and 5 mm in width, 57.5% of the lower petals fused.        -   Calyx.—Rotate, average of 7 mm in length and 1.4 cm in            diameter, color fades to 39B, center in between 148A and            197A creating an extra ornamental value.        -   Sepals.—5, obovate to elliptic in shape, margin is entire,            apex is obtuse, base is cuneate, both surfaces are smooth            and dull, color: immature upper surface; 35B, center is            197A, immature lower surface; 38A, center is 197A, mature            upper surface; 37A, center is between 148A and 197A, mature            lower surface; 37B, center is between 148A and 197A.        -   Peduncles.—Average of 7 mm in length and 1.4 mm in width,            strong, color: upper surface; N186C, lower surface; 187A,            glabrous surface, average angle of 0° (straight on top of            lateral branch), secondary peduncles in an average angle of            60°.        -   Pedicels.—About 1 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, strong,            upper and lower surface 146A in color, glabrous surface,            average angle: 0° (straight on top of peduncle), secondary            pedicels in an average angle of 50°.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, about 1.25 cm in length, stigma 155A in            color, club-shaped, style is about 1.2 cm in length and            color is NN155B, base 157D in color, ovary is 146A in color.        -   Androcoecium.—About 4 stamens, anthers are narrow oblong in            shape, basifixed, about 1 mm in length and 158D in color,            filaments are about 1.1 cm in length and NN155D in color,            pollen is moderate in quantity and 156D in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—No fruit or seed have been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Abelia plant named ‘OPSTAL102’ as herein illustrated and described. 